Influences Flashcards
INFLUENCE 1
The Lounge Chair and Ottoman (1965) had the look and feel of a used catcher’s mitt, an item he owned when he was a child. The mitt is used by a catcher in a game of baseball. It reminded Eames of a human body sinking into a soft, comfy leather material, just like when the ball is nestled in the mitt . The curved surfaces of the plywood shells are likened to that of the mitt , imply comfort.
INFLUENCE 2
This design has also been influenced by natural forms and our deeper relationship with nature and the modern world. It has been influenced by the curvature of the earth. As the earth is curved and round, the seat of the Lounge Chair is also slightly curved upwards. They really took into account the organic forms and shapes in all parts of nature. Since it’s made out of curved plywood, trees are incorporated as a natural material within the chair design.
INFLUENCE 3
Charles and Ray Eames were seen as innovators when it came to developing certain designs. We can see this when they were working on plywood splints and stretchers in WWII for the injured soldiers. Their newer design, ‘lounge chair and ottoman’ made in 1956 has the similar plywood design on the chair. This was a great design as the plywood is lightweight, strong and extremely flexible and can easily be moulded into shape. This is shown in the curved shells of the chair
INFLUENCE 4
Charles Eames was an American designer who studied architecture for two years at Washington University in St. Louison, and Eames was unfortunately dismissed. Mainly because his inclination to modern tendencies. This dismissal pushed Eames to develop his modernist skills into the designs we know today. Eames took whatever was said about him as a motivating force and inspiration to create designs like The ‘Lounge Chair and Ottoman ‘in 1956, where we see simple, innovative practical design using techniques of construction not used before. ie. the use of moulded plywood
